Int’l incoming call rate slashed 66pc

The government today slashed the international incoming voice call rate by 65.71 per cent to $0.006 per minute.

The move comes amid repeated calls from the International Gateway (IGW) operators at a time when the sector has seen falling revenues in recent years.

The latest decision by the telecom division also means that IGW operators will share their revenues based on the declared floor price, regardless of how much they actually charge for calls.

A significant portion of international calls are now made through internet-based communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, Skype, IMO and WeChat. Since these cost nothing other than the price of the data consumed, operators have seen their earnings take a hit.

Mobile network operators run promotional campaigns for these applications, while people have gradually grown accustomed to using internet-based platforms to stay in touch, according to industry insiders.

The number of minutes used daily during legally made international voice calls has dwindled to about two crore per day from some 10 crore minutes a few years ago, as more people now use free communication apps.

"Actually, worldwide data is gradually taking over voice services and that also effects government revenue. Considering the situation, we made this decision," Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar told The Daily Star this evening.

International call termination was one of the government's main sources of revenue just five years ago. However, earnings from the sector has shrunk substantially since then.

In fiscal 2014-15, government earning from international calls was Tk 2,075.62 crore. It then fell to Tk 1,387.37 crore, dwindling to Tk 967.63 crore, before reaching just a few hundred crore takas in successive years, according to BTRC officials.

Although the number of active internet connections reached ten crores, the true number of users is about four crores. Almost all of them use communication applications even for local calls, industry insiders said.

Currently, Bangladesh has 24 IGW operators, of which, six lost their licences for failing to pay unpaid dues.